1
: something that is swollen
specifically
: an abnormal bodily protuberance or localized enlargement
2
: the condition of being swollen
Examples of swelling in a Sentence
There was a swelling above her eye.
The swelling around her eye should subside in a few days.
Recent Examples on the Web
Symptoms of Chagas disease include fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, rash, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, and eyelid swelling.
—
Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
However, Sumpter was later diagnosed with preeclampsia—a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure, excessive swelling, headaches, body pain, and alarming levels of protein in urine—and giving birth affected her appearance.
—Essence, 3 Sep. 2025
June Shaver's skin grafts were still healing, with scarring and related swelling only now starting, Larry Shaver said.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common vein condition, the White House said in July, after photos showed visible swelling in his legs and bruising on his right hand.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swelling
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Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
However, Sumpter was later diagnosed with preeclampsia—a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure, excessive swelling, headaches, body pain, and alarming levels of protein in urine—and giving birth affected her appearance.
—Essence, 3 Sep. 2025
June Shaver's skin grafts were still healing, with scarring and related swelling only now starting, Larry Shaver said.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common vein condition, the White House said in July, after photos showed visible swelling in his legs and bruising on his right hand.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swelling
Cite this Entry
“Swelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swelling. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
swelling
noun
swell·ing
ˈswel-iŋ- 
: an abnormal bodily protuberance or localized enlargement
an inflammatory swelling
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